Opening Night | The Little Black Jacket, Chanel

We were lucky enough to attend the much-anticipated Opening Night of the Chanel Little Black Jacket Exhibition, which has been touring the fashion capitals and arrived in Dubai this weekend. Situated in a grand, and impossible chic, pop-up “tent” beneath the Burj Khalifa, the exhibition is now open to the public and will run until the 11th of May 2013.

Watch the short film for the ‘Making of’ online here now and find out more details.

The Little Black Jacket: Chanel’s Classic Revisited by Karl Lagerfeld and Carine Roitfeld’s exhibiting at The Venue, Downtown Dubai, Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard, from Saturday 27 April through to May 11. Open 11am-9pm on weekdays and 11am-10pm on weekends.

Our Picture Diary…

Symphony’s Holly opted for a Rochas Full Skirt and Cropped Blouse with EK Thongprasert Necklace all from Symphony, The Dubai Mall.

Holly completed the outfit with a Givenchy clutch and the FINSK for Symphony nude heels

The Chanel Little Black Jacket Exhibition at The Venue, Downtown Dubai

Symphony’s Holly (right) with Head of Buying for Gucci Middle East Alex Gnjatovic (left – wearing Gucci)

Symphony’s Holly (right) with Harper’s Bazaar Arabia’s Sally Matthews

We had a magical evening. Thanks so much to Chanel for hosting us!

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xoxo

Young & Beautiful by Lana Del Rey

As the release date for Baz Luhrmann’s highly-anticipated Great Gatsby draws closer, we were most excited to hear Symphony favourite Lana Del Rey’s contribution to the soundtrack. Will you still love me when I am no longer beautiful? Yes Lana, yes we will…

Sleeping Beauty

Carole Hochman (pictured above) is perhaps the single most influential woman in the intimate apparel and sleepwear business in the U.S. today, we are delighted to add her beautiful sleepwear to our loungerie edit for Spring/Summer 2013.

A designer and industry pioneer, Carole Hochman has been designing intimate apparel for more than 30 years. What began as a young girl’s dream to become a New York City fashion designer has today evolved into a global powerhouse company. The Carole Hochman Design Group manufactures not only the unsurpassed Carole Hochman brand of sleepwear, loungewear and daywear, but also owns OnGossamer and the licenses to several exceptional lingerie and sleepwear collections including Oscar de la Renta, Ralph Lauren, Jockey and Betsey Johnson.

Hochman began her career in lingerie by accident. While attending Drexel University, a trade college in Philadelphia where she studied fashion design, she landed a job at Bergdorf Goodman in a department she’d given very little thought to before – lingerie. Carole worked hard, learned the business and was soon hired by a lingerie company and had the opportunity to design sleepwear for Bonwit Teller. Without knowing a thing about garment construction or the fabrics required to produce them, Carole nailed the collection on the first try, launching her career into the dreamy world of intimate apparel.

The following year, Carole Hochman began working for a small New York-based intimate apparel design firm. It was here where she truly learned how to design collections that would satisfy both women’s fantasies as well as their lifestyle needs – pioneering new directions in intimate apparel. In 1985, a testament to Carole’s vision and talent, the company was re-named Carole Hochman Designs.

During this time, Christian Dior was Carole Hochman Design’s biggest licensee, and the industry standard in luxury lingerie, sold in virtually every major department and specialty store, and found in every elegant woman’s wardrobe across the U.S. Carole traveled several times a year to Paris, mastering the art of flawless construction and experimenting with different textiles and fabrics during her time there.

Then, in the late 1980s, the economic downturn dictated a shift in consumer mindset away from pure luxe and towards comfort. Carole instantly saw an opportunity to design sleepwear that revolved around comfortable-chic. She set her sights on Turkey which was experiencing a cotton boom and returned within weeks with a 100% cotton sleepwear collection that Macy’s bought virtually sight unseen. And so was launched the Carole Hochman brand of sleepwear that is today synonymous with luxury, comfort and style and sold in better department and specialty stores across the U.S.

By the mid-1990s, Carole Hochman was renowned for her cotton knitwear and was approached by global fashion houses, including Esprit and Ralph Lauren, to design their sleepwear collections. She was one of the first designers to embrace the concept of QVC, recognizing the power of the home shopper, a customer who has proved loyal to her from the start.

To view the latest collection with prices, see our Facebook Album here now.

The XX Live at Coachella 2013

Today’s Music Monday is special for a plethora of reasons, firstly it’s a live performance from Coachella 2013, secondly it’s fifty-three minutes long and it also includes an exclusive duet with two of our favourite acts around the eighteen minute mark. Presenting, The XX Live at Coachella 2013, featuring Solange Knowles on stage to cover Aaliyah’s ‘Hot Like Fire’. Perfection.

Style Insider | Olympia Le Tan

Designer Olympia Le Tan

Describe your style in 5 words // Traditional, original, quirky, sexy, feminine.

What’s the most precious piece in your wardrobe and why? // My Olympia Le Tan bags because they are unique and my designs.

Who is your ultimate muse? // Bettie Page

If you could swap wardrobes with anyone… // Victoire de Castellane

On your wish list for Spring/Summer 2013 // Secret Garden Print Nina Top by Olympia Le Tan

The best style advice you could give is… // Be yourself

Your go-to fail safe look is … // An Alaia Dress because they are perfect!

The most common mistake when it comes to dressing is // Following trends

I look best when I … // Wear what I love

In terms of fashion, I spend the most on… // Shoes

The beauty essentials I can’t live without are… // Red lipstick

My favourite places for inspiration are… // Anywhere in Japan

Follow me on Instagram at… // @OlympiaLeTan

Olympia’s iconic novel clutches, available at Symphony, The Dubai Mall exclusively now.

View the collection with prices here now.

Vogue Italia | Eco-Sustainability Project in Dubai

Vogue Italia in partnership with The Dubai Mall are calling all designers that already have eco-sustainable collections, up-and-coming designers, students of fashion and design or new university graduates, designers working in style departments to participate in the eco-talents scouting project. Find out more here now.

To participate, send all projects before the 30th of June 2013 in high resolution (300dpi) to the following email address: ecotalents@condenast.it

All the selected projects will be exhibited in October 10th at the dubai mall during the Vogue Fashion Dubai Experience

The Symphony Diaries | Spring/Summer 2013

WHAT WE’RE WATCHING //

• Suits, our absolute latest TV addiction, which is a combination between the films Catch Me If You Can and Rain Man. The impeccable style and the fact that it is set in New York City further cements our love for Suits.
• ‘Life is but a Dream’ Beyonce’s revealing and inspiring new documentary.
• New Girl, mostly for Schmidt, who we can’t help but laugh at / with.
• Revenge, still gripped two seasons on – will Emily ever find retribution?
• The funny and sweet, Raising Hope, a great go-to classic comedy sitcom.

WHAT WE’RE EATING //

• The adorable Emirati bakery’s Klayya’s cute mini frozen vimtos and breads and spreads – we’ve become addicted since we hosted our event at the beginning of March Symphony’s Tasyourah in celebration of regional talent.
• The delicious and healthy fresh salads from DIFC’s 1762 Deli, delivered to our offices in Souk Al Bahar.
• Debauve & Gallais beautiful couture chocolates.
• Our favourite Emirati sweet delicacies from Gourmandise, their Betheetha Roses are exquisite.
• Dreaming of eating at The Dinner Club 57′s table again.  At the second ever event, we sampled healthy and wholesome fare in an empty swimming pool in Abu Dhabi. Such a magical evening!

WHAT WE’RE LISTENING TO //

• Alt-J’s stunning debut album ‘An Awesome Wave’, on repeat.
• Everything and anything remixed by the hotly-tipped-for-2013 Cyril Hahn, his reworks of Alpine’s haunting tracks being our particular favourites.
• Laura Mvula’s toe-tapping, happy-clappy, summery track Green Garden.
• Wailo by Rashed Al Majed.
• Mahu Inta by Rabeh Saqer.

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Symphony | Ground Floor, Fashion Avenue | The Dubai Mall

The Charity Draw, Symphony’s Tasyourah | Winners

It’s with great pleasure that we share the nine winners from our Charity Draw in aid of Dubai Cares as part of our week-long event #SymphonysTasyourah. Thank you to all who visited and helped with this special cause either through entering the Charity Draw or shopping the regional collections during the Tasyourah.

1 // The Madiyah Al Sharqi Charity Raffle Piece won by Moza Alabbar.

2 // The Maryam Omaira Charity Raffle Piece won by Fatma Bin Shabib.

3 // The Reem Juan Charity Raffle Piece won by Maryam Al Shamsi.

4 // The Razan Alazzouni Charity Raffle Piece won by Noaf Hussein.

5 // The Malaak Charity Raffle Piece won by Abeer Al Suwaidi.

6 // The Abeer Al Suwaidi Charity Raffle Piece won by Mariam Al Qubaisi

7 // The LUM by Lama Taher Charity Raffle Piece won by Shamsa Alabbar

8 // The Trip to Paris donated by DW Travel won by Hanan Alawadi

9 // The London College of Fashion Dubai Short Course won by Nora Al Mheiri

100% of the Charity Draw ticket sales with go directly to Dubai Cares as well as 10% of the regional purchases made during #SymphonysTasyourah. We are finalising the total amount raised and will reveal this very soon!

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We look forward to welcoming you to the next Tasyourah and thank you again, from the bottom of our hearts, for all of your support!

View the #SymphonysTasyourah Event Pictures here.

Make a donation to Dubai Cares here.

Say My Name – Cyril Hahn Remix

We love what Cyril Hahn has done to this Destiny’s Child classic!

7 Days of Style | Giovanna Battaglia

Symphony designer Sara Battaglia’s equally stylish sis, Giovanna, shares 7 days of impeccable style with us…

1 // 

“With Anna Dello Russo and our Sara Battaglia bow clutches!”

2 // 

“I am wearing a Thierry Mugler sacket, Lanvin skirt and Aquazzura heels”

3 // 

“I’m wearing a vintage dress and Valentino shoes, my friend and I are both carrying my sister, Sara’s bags”

4 // 

“I’m wearing Dolce & Gabbana and enjoying a dance with designer Domenico Dolce! So fun!”

5 // 

“On a flight to NYC wearing my favourite vintage sunglasses!”

6 // 

“On the go wearing a Calvin Klein jumper, Ralph Lauren trousers, Dolce & Gabbana heels and Hermes bag”

7 // 

“I love this dress by the artist Stephen Sprouse”

60 Seconds with

Giovanna Battaglia

EAT…. Italian food. I love risotto al tartufo bianco.

SHOP…. for bags and shoes!

VISIT…. Venice.

LISTEN TO…. Opera Rigoletto from Verdi interpreted by Pavorotti.

PERSON…. Michelle Obama.

BEST ADVICE…. Play hard, work harder!

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The Sara Battaglia Spring/Summer 2013 clutches as coveted by Giovanna Battaglia and Anna Dello Russo (pictured above) are exclusively available at Symphony, The Dubai Mall now. See the full collection with prices here.